Arakawa Lock Gate, Navigation lock in Komatsugawa and Higashisuna, Japan
Arakawa Lock Gate is a navigation lock in Komatsugawa and Higashisuna that regulates water levels between different sections of the river in eastern Tokyo. The structure allows boats to pass safely through the waterway system while maintaining controlled water flow.
The lock opened in 2005 and replaced older water management systems in an area with a long history of river shipping. The Arakawa waterway system had previously played an important role in transporting goods through the city.
The lock gate shows how Tokyo connected traditional river shipping with modern water management systems. The area around it preserves the memory of times when goods like rice and soy sauce traveled by water.
You can climb to the top of the structure to enjoy views of the surrounding waterways and watch the lock operating as boats pass through. The best time to visit is when vessels are transiting, so you can see the system working in action.
The lock stands just 300 meters from the historic Kyu Komatsugawa Komon structure, which dates from an earlier era of water control. This proximity shows how water regulation techniques evolved at this location over time.
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